ANTRIM

Sparks flew after shocking pictures emerged of Irish flags and a G.A.C. banner being burned on local bonfires during eleventh night celebrations two weeks ago.

The “blatant act of sectarianism” provoked anger on both sides of the community after the Antrim Guardian unearthed disturbing photographs of young children watching on as community relations quite literally went up in flames.

While the controversial Ballycraigy bonfire has made worldwide headlines as Antrim's very own leaning tower of tires, jaws dropped as – yet again – photos emerged of tricolors adorning the side of the huge structure.
[Source: Antrim Guardian]

ARMAGH

An explosive device was found in County Armagh last week.

Police described the device discovered in Bawn Meadows in Hamiltonsbawn as small.

Army bomb disposal experts made the scene safe and removed the item for forensic examination.

Residents evacuated from their homes during the security alert were allowed to return.
[Source: Irish Independent]

CARLOW

We’d probably all love to have birthday celebrations on this scale, but it is not often you reach 800. An once-in-a-lifetime festival to celebrate Carlow Castle’s momentous birthday is taking place in August, and we’re all invited.

The celebrations also form part of Carlow’s Gathering plans, with town clerk Michael Brennan describing the event as “flagship” and “extremely important to Carlow.”

Councilors at June’s monthly meeting of Carlow Town Council were told of a huge array of festival events to mark the castle’s big birthday. The festival takes place from August 22-25, with the opening Ceol 800 concert taking place on Thursday, Aug. 22, at 7 p.m. on the steps of Carlow Courthouse. There will also be a reunion of Mimes Nightclub, where many a kiss was stolen in a dark corner the 1970s and ’80s – and a medieval street carnival festival with jesters, jousters and street entertainment.
[Source: Carlow Nationalist]

CAVAN

Cavan County Council has an emergency plan at the ready to manage water resources in the event the ongoing heat-wave results in drought, The Anglo-Celt can reveal.

After last weekends, most areas nation-wide were without substantial rain for a fortnight, and the heat-wave is predicted to continue for a further two weeks.
[Source: The Anglo Celt]

CLARE

Kilrush Town Council has declined to pick up the travel tab for the attendance of Bishop Frank J. Caggiano, vicar general of the Diocese of Brooklyn in the United States and bishop of Scattery Island, at a special ceremony on the sixth-century estuary island early next month.

However, the town council can find the funds to send four members to the annual Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland (A.M.A.I.) conference in Inchydoney Lodge and Spa in Clonakilty a month later.

According to the A.M.A.I. website, the cost of registration for the September 12-14 conference is $230 per person.
[Source: Clare Champion]

CORK

A public consultation on flooding took place in Clonakilty last Tuesday. The town council and the O.P.W. (Office of Public Works) revealed their plans to prevent any further flooding in the future.

The flood prevention plans include creating a dam type water retention area and improving coastal defenses.

The flooding problem in the lower River Lee area and Cork City was the focus of a public information session last Wednesday afternoon. Details of the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme were on display in Cork City Hall from 3-9 p.m.
[Source: Cork Independent]

DERRY

Derry singer Damian McGinty has spoken of his shock at the tragic death of his “Glee” costar, Cory Monteith, who was found dead in a Vancouver hotel room on Saturday, July 13.

The 20-year-old singer and actor told the Journal: “The world has lost a truly incredible human being.”

The pair worked together on season three of the hit T.V. show when Damian secured the role of Rory – an Irish exchange student at William McKinley High School.
[Source: Derry Journal]

DONEGAL

Margo O’Donnell, the “Queen of Country and Irish” is getting ready to record a very special T.V. program in Kilcar.

Margo will celebrate 50 Years in the Country Music industry next year and a documentary is being recorded at the Blue Haven on Friday, August 2.

The program will be aired at Christmas to mark the start of her Golden Jubilee in show business.
[Source: Donegal Democrat]

DOWN

Police in Newry are appealing for information after two cars were damaged in a road traffic collision on the A1 southbound, between the Sheepbridge and Carnbane junctions.

Sometime between 2:20 a.m. and 2:55 a.m. on Monday, July 16, a brown and white piebald horse was roaming loose on the carriageway and unfortunately was killed after being involved in the collision.
[Source: Newry Times]

DUBLIN

Significant divisions have emerged between Dublin and London during negotiations over future economic links, following the Irish Government’s refusal to accept joint trade missions, particularly for the agri-food industry.

A report for both governments, carried out by P.A. Consulting Group and Cambridge Econometrics, was published last Thursday, highlighting the deep ties that exist, and estimating that 208,000 jobs in the Republic are dependent on U.K. trade.

Meanwhile, the U.K. remains Ireland’s largest export destination, taking 16 percent of Ireland’s total industrial exports two years ago, along with being the largest client for Irish service companies, almost 20 percent of whose business takes place there.
[Source: Irish Times]

FERMANAGH

The ongoing political upheaval in Egypt was narrowly avoided by Enniskillen student, Eoghain Eillis, who flew home from the north African country just two days before the military coup there.

The removal of former President Morsi by Egypt’s military, has culminated in a spate of violence and unrest centered on the country’s capital, Cairo. Eoghain, who spent nine months – from September 2012 to July of this year – living in Cairo as part of his university course, spoke last week of his time in the country.

“The reason I was there is I’m studying Arabic, so I lived in Egypt from September 2012 to July of this year,” explained 21-year-old, Oxford University student, Eoghain.
[Source: Fermanagh Herald]

GALWAY

The High Court has approved a scheme of arrangement for Galway firm Barna Waste, securing some 250 jobs.

It follows the appointment of an examiner to the company in April.

Barna Waste was established in 1993 by managing directors Sean and Annette Curran, and has its head office in Carrowbrowne on the Headford Road.
[Source: Galway Bay FM]

KERRY

A 26-year-old man has been further remanded in custody charged with the murders of a young mother and her eight-year-old daughter whose bodies were found in their rented home in County Kerry last month.

Aurimas Andruska made his fourth court appearance when he appeared at Cork District Court last Thursday morning charged with the murder of Jolanta Lubiene (27) and her daughter, Enrika, at their home at Langford Downs in Killorglin on June 15.

The bodies of the mother and daughter were found in the two-story semi-detached house by Gardaí (police) who called there on June 16 after a friend in the Lithuanian community was unable to make contact with Ms. Lubiene who worked in a local nursing home in Killorglin.
[Source: Irish Times]

KILDARE

An online petition demanding an extraordinary general meeting of Newbridge Credit Union has been drawing massive support locally. The petition has been launched amid fears that the Newbridge operation could effectively be dismantled and accounts transferred to other local credit unions.
 
Local community activist, Willie Crowley, initiated the petition and he says it has been rapidly gaining momentum, with signatures coming not just from Newbridge and the surrounding areas, but also from former residents now living abroad.
 
Mr. Crowley launched the petition following the most recent High Court hearing, during which Special Manager Luke Charlton and his Ernst and Young team were reappointed for a further six months.
[Source: Kildare Nationalist]

KILKENNY

Exciting plans for the Diageo brewery site, which will create jobs in the city and inject money into the local economy, were unveiled last week.

Members of both councils approved the plans, which will transform the brew house and maturation buildings on the site. The hop-store and the Mayfair offices will also be retained.

Discussions are in place with the T.S.S.G. Centre at St. Kieran’s College, which is seeking to expand R&D capability. Since it opened in 2012, the center has generated $26 million worth of business per annum and employs 20 highly-skilled researchers.
[Source: Kilkenny People]

LAOIS

Sinn Féin T.D. Brian Stanley has again raised the dire situation regarding dental and orthodontic services for young children with the minister for Health and the H.S.E.

“Dental services for primary school children in the midlands have regressed to 1950s standards, which will only lead to associated health problems in later life,” he said.

“There is a wait of over one year to be assessed by an orthodontist in Laois. On top of that, children may have to wait up to another three years to receive the actual treatment. This means that some may have finished secondary school without receiving the required orthodontic treatment.”
[Source: Leinster Express]

LEITRIM

“Home & Away’s” favorite bad boy, Heath Braxton, celebrated his bride’s birthday in The Landmark Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon two weeks ago.

Actor Dan Ewing enjoyed a top secret visit to The Landmark Hotel during his tour of Ireland two weeks ago, the handsome Australian took time out of his busy schedule to celebrate his new bride’s birthday.

The newlyweds, tanned and gorgeous Dan Ewing and his very beautiful bride, Marni Little, celebrated Marni’s birthday with a few friends in the seclusion of a private room in The Landmark Thursday evening, July 18.
[Source: Leitrim Observer]

LIMERICK

Shannon Airport has just recorded its first month-over-month increase in passenger numbers in five years, with transatlantic traffic alone having jumped by almost 40 percent in June 2013.

New figures show a total of 160,573 passengers used the airport last month, up by eight percent on the corresponding month in 2012. Transatlantic traffic – boosted by new seasonal routes to Philadelphia and Chicago – increased by 38 percent in the same period.
[Source: Limerick Leader]

LONGFORD

A U.S. police officer and Lanesboro native has told of the terrifying scenes he witnessed moments after a Boeing 777 aircraft crash-landed at San Francisco International Airport, killing three people.

Val Kirwan described the immediate aftermath of the Asiana Airlines crash on July 6 as “like a scene from a movie” in an incident that left another 180 people injured.

A number of passengers remain in a critical condition in hospital, something with which the highly-trained anti-terrorist detective is still coming to terms.

“I was part of a group of cops who walked in a line through the debris looking for body parts and the black box,” said Val. “We walked through the debris a few times and it was like a scene from a movie.”
[Source: Longford Leader]

LOUTH

Detectives believe morning commuters may have seen the killers behind the country's latest gangland-style shooting.

A 27-year-old man has died after being shot dead close to the Luas line in Kilmainham in Dublin shortly before 10:30 a.m. last Monday.

The attack was carried out behind apartments at Grand Canal View, near Davitt Road, in an area known locally as the Dry Canal Bed.
[Source: Dundalk Democrat]

MAYO

Myles Henaghan and Eithne Sweeney are back on home soil. The adventurous couple arrived at Old Head near Louisburgh pier shortly after 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 14, 10 months after they struck out for the west Mayo shore. The couple left Onehunga, Auckland, New Zealand on September 10, 2012, with the goal of sailing home to Ireland –  a journey of over 15,000 nautical miles.

“Position: 53’24°N, 10’28°W. Reporting in from 16 miles south-west of Clifden, 34 miles south-west of Old Head and 10,600 miles north-west of Auckland. Ahead of us we can see the familiar outline of Croagh Patrick as we sail along on a lovely sunny day.”

Their last blog post, early on Sunday morning, came after a long, tough journey through the oceans of the world, the geography of the mind and the terrain of close relationships.
[Source: The Mayo News]

MEATH

Gardaí (police) are investigating an alleged sexual assault on a girl who had been camping at Bettystown beach late on Monday, July 15.

A large number of Gardaí converged on the beach on Tuesday morning after receiving complaints of an assault. An eyewitness who was walking on the beach said that between 10-12 Gardaí were at the scene and that a young girl was wrapped in a blanket and was being comforted there.
[Source: Meath Chronicle]

MONAGHAN

Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny met with families and survivors of the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings in government buildings last Thursday night. The families of other victims of the Troubles in the state also attended.

The meeting was the latest in a series Mr. Kenny is holding with the families of victims of the Troubles, including the Disappeared, The Kingsmill Massacre, East Fermanagh and the Enniskillen bombing.

The Dublin and Monaghan car bombings killed 33 civilians, an unborn child and wounded almost 300 – the highest number of casualties in any single day during the Troubles.
[Source: Irish Times]

OFFALY

A 26-year-old man has died after he fell from a horse in Banagher, County Offaly, last Wednesday night.

It is understood the man was thrown from the saddle and was trapped under the animal for a short time.

He sustained serious injuries and was transferred by Air Corps ambulance to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, where he later died.
[Source: Offaly Express]

ROSCOMMON

The heartbroken mother of the Elphin teenager who tragically drowned two weeks ago while
swimming in a lake has appealed to young people to take care in the water as the hot weather
continues.

The body of 19-year-old Daniel Harding was recovered from the popular Drinaun Lake between
Elphin and Stokestown more than three hours after he got into difficulty in the water while
swimming with friends.
[Source: Roscommon Herald]

SLIGO

Sligo Rovers face an uphill task in Norway this Tuesday after they fell to a single goal defeat in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier with Molde F.K.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side claimed the spoils thanks to a strike from Nigerian striker, Daniel Chima Chukwu, which punished the hosts for a sloppy first-half performance.

He struck three minutes before the interval after causing problems for Sligo center-half pair, Evan McMillan and Gavin Peers, and curling a right footer into the bottom corner behind Gary Rogers.
[Source: Irish Independent]

TIPPERARY

Templemore has been given a much needed vote of confidence with the news that the Garda (Police) College will accept new recruits “as soon as possible.”

The announcement was made by Justice Minister Alan Shatter at a graduation ceremony last Monday. It’s hoped the first new batch of Gardaí will be recruited by early 2014, with a very large number of applications expected later in the year. Deputy Noel Coonan said Minister Shatter has “received sanction from the minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to begin the process of recruitment to the full-time force.” Minister Shatter “acknowledged that it is very important for an [organization] like An Garda Síochána, given the demanding nature of policing, receive a reasonably regular intake of new recruits.”
[Source: Tipperary Star]

TYRONE

The funeral took place on Sunday, July 14, of a popular Fivemiletown father-of-two who died following a tragic road traffic accident in Magherafelt three days earlier.

Glen Patrick (Archie) Campbell (35), of Tudor Park, Fivemiletown, was driving an articulated livestock lorry carrying around 240 pigs, which overturned at Mayogall Road, near the village of Gulladuff, at around 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 11.

The one-vehicle collision took place on the Mayogall Road between Clady and Gulladuff.
[Source: Tyrone Courier]

WATERFORD

Waterford City Council has become the 13th local authority to unanimously pass a motion supporting the “Turn Off the Red Light” campaign, which wants to end abuse, exploitation and sex-trafficking by targeting the buyers of sex.

Waterford City Councilors have joined those in councils across the country in supporting the campaign.

The motion, proposed by Labour Councilor Dee Jacques, was passed at the council’s meeting for the month of July.
[Source: Waterford News & Star]

WESTMEATH

Congratulations to Greg Horan and wife Denise, who gave birth to a baby boy last Tuesday, making Niall from One Direction one very proud uncle.

Family staked out the Midland Regional Hospital at Mullingar, anxiously awaiting the new arrival, with all delighted at the new bundle of joy.

It was a long day for all involved, so much so, that as Niall left the hospital with father Bobby, he said “I’m starving; I haven’t had a thing to eat all day!”
[Source: Westmeath Examiner]

WEXFORD

The death has taken place of Enniscorthy’s popular town chairman, Councilor Pat Cody (57).

Clr. Cody, who was elected chairman as well as vice-chairman of Wexford County Council just last month, lost his long-standing battle with cancer when he passed away peacefully in his home last Thursday.

Originally from Kilkenny, Clr. Cody moved to Enniscorthy over 30 years ago where he became a well-known nurse in St. Senan’s Hospital, Enniscorthy.  He has been to the fore in developing and enhancing Community Mental Health Services in Enniscorthy, Gorey, New Ross and Wexford.
[Source: Wexford Echo]

WICKLOW

Irishman Robbie Robinson returned home to Dublin last Thursday.

The 32-year-old, from Ashford in County Wicklow, has spent almost four weeks lying in a coma in a hospital in Bangkok after suffering a horrific fall.

He was left with catastrophic head injuries after falling from the fourth-story of an apartment building on June 22.

Robbie's mother, Martina Robinson, said the family had received the green light to fly their loved one home Thursday.
[Source: Evening Herald]